Reynolds takes 7th at state

Seth Reynolds (center) from Eaton runs in lane eight during the 110-meter hurdle finals at the state track meet in Columbus on Saturday, June 6. Reynolds finished with a time of 14.76, placing him seventh overall in Division II.

COLUMBUS — Eaton senior Seth Reynolds competed in the Division II 110-meter hurdles during the state meet in Columbus on Friday and Saturday, June 5-6.

In the preliminary run held on Friday, Reynolds clocked a time of 14.81, placing him with the seventh fastest time. During the final run, he set his personal best time of 14.76, coming in seventh place and reaching the podium.

“I come in every meet and pray to God, tell him to be with me. Today he was with me, (Friday) he was with me. He just helped me do the best I could and place as high as I could,” he said. “I wanted to redeem myself from last year and last week at the regional meet after falling in the 300 hurdles. I wanted to come in here and show them that I can make it and I’m good.”

He was less than one second behind the winning hurdler, Caleb Wilt from Miami Trace, who clocked a time of 13.80. The race was loaded with experience as well, with six of the nine lanes being taken up by seniors.

Reynolds, while a senior, has only been running track since his junior year. But even though this is only his second year in the sport, this is also his second appearance at the state track meet.

“I’m really thankful. I hear that one of my teammates got fifth place the past four years at the regional meet and never got to make it here,” he said. “So I’m really thankful and feel special that I was able to do it.”

Reynolds got to the state meet by taking first place in his district with a run of 15.02 before placing third in the regional with a time of 15.38. He also won his district in the 300-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 40.42, and took fourth in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, nine and one-quarter inches.

He will continue his track career in college when he heads to Indiana University East in the fall.